As a web content writing intern, I got to do something I had never done before- blogging for business. What are 5 important lessons I learned from blogging?
1. Post blogs when your audience will see them
The first thing I did as a blog writing intern was to create a plan for my blogs. Just like other aspects of a business, blogging is a strategic business move. I had to decide when the right time to post my blogs was so that the most people would see it.
According to the Huffington Post, 70% of people report reading blogs in the morning– 8:00-10:00 AM being the “peak time” for blog reading. In addition, Tuesdays and Thursdays are considered steady days for blog reading. Understanding the optimal time to post blogs helped me to better reach my target audience.
Having a schedule for when to post blogs helps to simplify blog writing while also connecting with readers. Posting at times of high online traffic will increase the chance of your blog being seen online.
2. Keep a consistent tone in your blogs
For me, the hardest part of blog writing was figuring out the right tone to use for my writing. Keeping the tone consistent also helps to develop the blog’s overall brand.
When first looking at what tone to use, I found a basic definition of tone from the Purdue Online Writing lab- tone is the “writer’s attitude toward the reader and the subject of the message”. I started to think of tone as how I want to come across in my writing and the type of relationship I want to establish with my readers.
For Craveity blog writing, I focused on an informal but not too informal tone. I wanted to actually talk to my reader so I used words such as “you” or “your” in order to break down and barriers between me and my reader.
3. Use outside research to back up your argument
There is safety in numbers and also in research. Use of outside research helps to support my blog’s main idea and validate what I am saying. Incorporating other reliable resources in a blog also helps to further develop a point.
In addition to helping your own argument, bringing in outside help can increase Search Engine Optimization (SEO) of your blog and the ability for your blog to be seen on the internet. Including hyperlinks in a blog increases SEO and helps to attach your blog to that other source.
4. Use images to draw in your audience
I tried to incorporate both feature and inline images in every post. Images in a post draws readers in and makes the post visually appealing. An interesting picture can “hook” a reader because readers only have so much reading time- so you want your post to look the most desirable.
Images are also great for social media promotion. Social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are very visually dependent and viewers are drawn to posts with little text and eye-catching images.
Besides being visually appealing, images add to your overall brand. Many companies (such as Craveity) have brand guidelines that direct what type of images best fit with the company’s image. For Craveity I learned to look for bright and clean photos that were connected to the blog but also fit into Craveity’s website as a whole.
5. Include a call to action
Since my first time blog writing was for Craveity, I learned how blogs are used as promotional tools for a company. Every blog should include a call to action to tie the writing back to the company as a whole.
As a blog writer, I tried to create a situation where the reader would be so interested in the blog that they then would want to look into the services that Craveity provided. A call to action is a way to wrap up the post and get the reader thinking about the company as a whole.
My time as a blog writing intern helped me learn a new skill and apply that skill to business. Blogging can be both personal and professional and is an interesting way to promote either yourself or a company.
